Muslim woman travels from Karachi to tie rakhi to Hindu brother in MP

Harda: Pakistani national Shahida Khaleel's happiness knew no bounds when she finally got an opportunity to travel to India from Karachi to tie rakhi to a Hindu man in Harda, whom she considers her brother.

After five years of efforts, the 45-year-old Shahida finally got a visa to visit India, and came to Harda on Tuesday to tie rakhi to Pankaj Bafna, who is her cousin's friend.

"I had been trying to obtain a visa to India for the past five years. Finally, I got the visa three days back," Shahida told PTI on Wednesday. She said her family had moved to Pakistan about thirty years back, though her uncle had settled in Harda.

"During my childhood I would visit Harda. However, I could not come to India for a long time. Pankaj, who is my cousin Dilip Khan's friend, had been inviting me to celebrate Raksha Bandhan. This year I finally got a chance and tied him a rakhi," she said. 46-year-old Pankaj, who is as happy on Shahida's coming, said besides tying rakhi, Shahida gifted him an idol of Lord Ganesh.

Pankaj's mother Indubala said that the love between her son and Shahida was an example for everyone. "I pray that relations between India and Pakistan also remain cordial always," she said.